Welcome to the webpage for the Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Island Affairs. Here you will find information about events, initiatives and updates on Asian and Pacific Islanders.

To accomplish its mandate, the Subcommittee focuses its attention and efforts to issues, initiatives and programs that provide more opportunities for Asian and Pacific Island Catholics to be fully engaged in the life and mission of the Church.

Asian and Pacific Islanders (API) are now one of the fastest growing minority groups in the United States, at six percent of the US population and with an increasing number immigrating each year. Asian and Pacific Islanders are the third largest of Catholics after white and Hispanic/Latino. This means an influx of API Catholics in US dioceses whose pastoral needs become more compelling every year.

I am pleased to share with you that, in the effort to respond to the pastoral needs of Asian and Pacific Islanders, the USCCB/ Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church and the Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Island Affairs are working to develop a national pastoral plan for Asian and Pacific Island Catholics. A national pastoral plan will be a concrete, useful, and strategic tool for pastoral ministry to serve API Catholics in the United States. Currently, a national study is being conducted that will inform the development of a national pastoral plan. There is much work to be done in the process to develop and implement a national pastoral plan. With God’s grace, the support of the bishops, the collaboration of diocesan offices, pastoral leaders on the ground, and Asian and Pacific Catholic groups and movements, a national pastoral plan will be realized.

Thank you for visiting our webpage and for your interest in Asian and Pacific Island Affairs. We welcome your suggestions and feedback. Feel free to reach us at scapa@usccb.org.

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